Shaft-coupling



(ModeL) 0.0. KLEIN.

SHAFT OOUPLING.

No. 253,872: Patented Feb. 21,1882.

Fig.1. 7 Fig.2.

1/ ep w UNITED STAT- s PATENT OF ICE. I,

CHARLES C. KLEIN, OF. PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SHAFT-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 253,872, dated February21, 1882.

Application filed January 3, 1881. (ModeL) To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, CHARLES C. KLEIN, of Philadelphia, coun ty ofPhiladelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Shaft-Couplings, which improvements are fully setforth in the following specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an end View; Fig. 2, avertical longitudinal section; Figs. 3 and 4, examples of couplings asheretofore constructed, and to which the improvements relate; and Fig.5, an enlarged view of the differential clamping device.

My invention relates to that class of couplings in which the clamping ofthe coupling to the shaft is effected by tangential screws or bolts.

The objects of my invention are, first, such a construction as willsecure thorough efiiciency, whileat the same time it will permit theemployment of common commercial bolts for clamping the coupling; second,the attainment of the greatest facility for loosening or tightening thebolts without requiring spe cial wrenches therefor; third, such aconstruction as will give the coupling a neat appearance, and leave itsexterior entirely free from projecting parts, for the purpose ofsat'etywhile running, at the least amount of fitting; fourth, the attainment ofgreat clamping-power in special cases by means of differential screws.

The first and second objects of my invention are accomplished byconstructing that part of the coupling which sustains the torsionalstrain in such a manner as to secure the greatest possible rigidity, andby removing from that part which accomplishes the clamping everythingwhich interferes with the adjustment of the bolts and with theirefficiency.

In order to facilitate the explanation of my invention, I have indicatedin Figs. 3 and 4 the principal characteristics of that class ofcouplingsin which tangential bolts effect the clam ping. In bothconstructions an entire cylindrical sleeve is used to cover the bolts,and this sleeve adds nothing to the strength of the coupling, for whichreason the interior parts have to be made heavy enough to take the c11-tire strains to which the coupling is subjected,

and this increases very much the relative pro portion of the diameter ofthe coupling to that of the shaft. In order to avoid this, and-to bringthe bolts as closely to the shaft aspossible, recesses are usually madefor receiving the heads and nuts of the bolts, by which, however,another difficulty-the requirement of special wrenches for the bolts-isintroduced.

If'the coupling indicated in Fig. 1 is divided longitudinally by animaginary plane, A A, that part below the plane in which the key 1" issituated sustains the torsional strain of the coupling, andthat partabove the plane accomplishes the clamping of the coupling to the shaft.That part of the outer periphery or rim K of the coupling which is belowthe plane A A is formed with the coupling in one piece, and thus addsvery materially to its strength.

The upper part of the coupling, Fig. 1, consisting of the wings D D, ismade just heavy enough to clasp the shaft tightly, yet not so rigid asto consume the entire or a great part of the power of the bolts inbringing them against the shaft. Hence it will be observed that by thisconstruction the bolts can be brought within the shortest possibledistance from the shaft 8, very little of their power is lost-in bendingthe wings D D toward the shaft, the driving part of the coupling is madethoroughly rigid with theleast possible amount of material, the boltsand nuts are easy of access with common wrenches, and the necessity oflongitudinal bolts, wedges, taperscrews, or other devices for gainingpower, and the most objectionable feature of these devicestheir bccoming rusted fast and of offering dangerous projecting points at the ends ofthe coupling-is done away with.

In order to attain the third object of my invention, I complete thecylindrical form of the coupling by placing a cap, E, over the wings D Dand bolts F, whose diameter corresponds to that of the lower part of thecoupling, and fasten it by a screw, m, or other suitable device.Although this cap E may be made separately and fitted to the coupling, Iprefer to cast the coupling in one piece, including the cap E, to breakit through .at the points 1' i, and then to finish it on the outsideafter the cap has again been attached to the coupling, so that the breakor seam will only be detected ICO with difficulty. By this constructionit will be seen nearly half the labor of molding is saved, as well asthe fitting of the cap to the coupling, the broken surfaces between thecap and the coupling forming a perfect joint without fitting them.

The fourth object of my invention is accomplished by the mechanicaldevice known as the differential screw, and is indicated by Fig. 5, inwhich D D are the clamping-wings of the coupling, F the bolt, and G- 9two nuts 1 fitting upon screw-threads on the bolt F. The

threads in the nuts are not of the same pitch; but one is coarser thanthe other. By screwing up the nuts separately the wings D D are drawntogether in inverse proportion of the pitch; but when both the nuts arekept stationary and the bolt is revolved in the proper direction thewings approach each other with a power in inverse proportion to thedifference between the pitches of the two nuts. In special cases, wherean enormous clamping-power is required, this device is useful, while inon dinary cases common bolts are sufficient.

In order to prevent the shafts from being pulled out of the coupling inthe direction of their length, pins are usually driven into the interiorof the coupling transversely with the axis, fitting into correspondingholes in the shaft.

In order to save the time required for drilling the holes in thecoupling, I form the pins 11 v on a link, Figs. 1 and 2. The bolts F,bearing upon the back of the link, serve to prevent the pins fromdrawing out of the holes in the shaft.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-- 1. A shaft-coupling provided on one side of a plane dividing itlongitudinally with the rim K and on the opposite side of the plane withthe wings D D and tangential bolts F,

substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In combination with a shalt-coupling having the rim K, wings D D, andtangential bolts F, the cap E and screw m, substantially as and for thepurpose specified.

3. In combination with a shaftcoupling having wings D D, the bolt F anddifferential nuts G g, substantially as and for the purpose set Forth.

CHAS. O. KLEIN.

Witnesses:

GEORGE W. BRADFORD, Orro REEsER.

